By Adesina Wahab

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA), University of Maiduguri Branch, has appealed for more democratic space for all labour unions to operate within university’s campuses in the country.

The Interim Chairman of the Branch, Prof. Muhammad Fannami, who led the other members of the Interim Executive Committee of the branch made the call while on courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Prof. Mohammed Laminu Mele, in his office.

Prof. Fannami told the Vice Chancellor that the Congress of University Academics is a registered labour union with affiliation to the Trade Union Congress (TUC) under the provision of the Trade Unions Act Cap T. 14 of 2004 as amended by the Trade Unions (Amendment) Act 2005 to promote dignity of labour and national development through education.

The Interim Chairman stressed that the union is working to provide alternative ways of resolving industrial disputes on campuses to replace the old passion of strike that is jeopardizing the academic calendar of the Nigerian Universities.

He enjoined the management of the University of Maiduguri to create a window for the union to derive membership among the academics as CONUA is one of the labour unions allowed to operate in the Nigerian Universities.

Responding, Prof. Mele appreciated the philosophy of CONUA to end incessant strikes in the Nigerian Universities for the socioeconomic development of the country.

Prof. Mele then assured the CONUA leadership that the management of the University of Maiduguri is ready to support and engage all unions to create a conducive atmosphere for its academic and non-academic staff for academic excellence in the University.